In a new report, Rush Doshi, Alexis Dale-Huang, and Gaoqi Zhang explore China's internal discourse on the Arctic as well as its activities across the region, revealing China's ambitions to become a “polar great power” and several other key findings.
The Biden administration's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan could spark "ethnic cleansing, mass slaughter, and the ultimate dismemberment of the country," write Madiha Afzal and Michael O'Hanlon.
Conversely, Vanda Felbab-Brown argues that the decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan is a wise strategic choice in light of trade-offs.
Ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Suga's visit with President Biden, Mireya Solís outlines the optics of the summit and notes that it will offer a chance to consult on China and coordinate ahead of upcoming multilateral summits.
"The move to [enrich uranium to] 60% does not signal that Iran is preparing to move quickly to 90% and build nuclear weapons...So, this development is worrisome but it's not alarming, in my view."
"Assignment Russia." In a new book from the Brookings Institution Press, Marvin Kalb details his personal journey as a young journalist during some of the darkest moments of the Cold War and the early days of television news.
Nord Stream 2. Berlin and Washington have a lot of work to do if they wish to avoid Nord Stream 2 becoming a major point of U.S.-German contention, writes Steven Pifer in a new policy brief.
The Broader Middle East
The U.S. and Oman. Bruce Riedel explains the historic partnership between the United States and Oman, and argues for President Biden to invite the new sultan of Oman for a visit because the country is an important voice for moderation and stability in a polarized region.
Pakistan policy under Biden. Madiha Afzal writes that while Pakistan has made it clear it wants a relationship with the United States that is broader in scope, President Biden has more pressing concerns—both domestically and abroad—to focus on Pakistan beyond the Afghanistan issue.
Asia
"Difficult Choices." In a new book from the Brookings Institution Press, Richard Bush considers the broad range of issues and policy choices Taiwan confronts and offers suggestions for what both Taiwan and the United States should do to improve Taiwan’s chances of success.
The Quad.Dhruva Jaishankar and Tanvi Madan argue in Foreign Affairs that the Quad—the United States, Japan, Australia, and India—represents the best hope for balancing China in the Indo-Pacific. Separately, Susan Thornton writes that among other factors, China's behavior will affect the future of the Quad.
U.S.-China strategy. Washington seems "all too willing" to overemphasize confrontation with China rather than competition or cooperation, writes Michael O'Hanlon.
International affairs
Foreign aid. On an episode of the Dollar & Sense podcast, Alexia Latortue joins David Dollar to discuss strategies for building infrastructure in developing countries, concerns over global growing debt levels, and challenges facing U.S. foreign assistance programs today.
Environmental harms.Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses the negative environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation, particularly as it relates to its large use and depletion of water, and reflects on what cases in California and Colorado might mean for Mexico.
Fragile states. To address global fragility, the United States must identify, support, and work with effective local partners in fragile states, including nonstate armed actors, urge Patrick Quirk and Prakhar Sharma
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